Oven-Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders + Homemade Ranch

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An easy weeknight meal when you’re craving something spicy, sweet, crispy, and a meal without the guilt! These Oven-Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders paired with a Healthier Homemade Ranch made with yogurt, buttermilk, and fresh garden herbs offer all the flavor you love with a lighter twist.

Ingredients you’ll need:

  • chicken tenders
  • flour
  • paprika
  • onion powder
  • garlic powder
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • butter
  • honey
  • hot sauce, or sriracha
  • lemon juice
  • eggs
  • cornflakes
  • yogurt (or mayo)
  • sour cream
  • buttermilk
  • fresh chives and dill

How to Make Crispy Chicken Tenders in the Oven?

The key to cooking up the crispiest chicken tenders in the oven is to use (1) parchment paper to prevent any sticking to then pan, and (2) olive oil to help imitate the idea of frying at a high heat. The olive oil will help crisper the cornflake coating. Lastly, (3) flip the chicken halfway through baking to help it evenly cook on all sides. If needed, flip one more time and bake an addition 5-6 minutes for extra crispy chicken.

How to Make a Healthier Ranch?

The trick to making a healthier homemade ranch is to use plain greek yogurt (full fat) in replacement of mayo. You could also just 50/50 the substitution so you still have that tangy mayo taste!

Cook with me!

Oven-Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders + Homemade Ranch

5 from 18 votes
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Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For the Homemade Ranch:

  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt or mayo
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tbsp. fresh dill chopped
  • 1 tbsp. fresh chives chopped
  • 1 tsp. EACH: garlic powder onion powder, salt, and black pepper
  • Lemon juice to taste

For the Nashville Hot Glaze:

  • 2 tbsp. California Olive Ranch 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 1/2 cup Honey
  • 1-2 tbsp. Hot Sauce to taste
  • juice of 1/2 lemon

For the Crispy Chicken Tenders:

  • 1 1/2 lbs. chicken tenders
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 2 tbsp. paprika divided
  • 2 tbsp. garlic powder divided
  • 1 tsp. EACH: onion powder, salt, and black pepper
  • 3 large eggs
  • 4 cups cornflakes pulsed in blender until fine crumb texture
  • 2 tbsp. California Olive Ranch 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions

For the Homemade Ranch:

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Cover and set aside.

For the Nashville Hot Glaze:

  • Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Set aside until ready to serve.

For the Crispy Chicken Tenders:

  • Preheat oven to 425F. Line a large, rimmed baking pan with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 tbsp. paprika, 1 tbsp. garlic powder, and remaining seasonings (onion powder, salt, and black pepper). Add the chicken tenders and toss until well coated.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the eggs and remaining paprika/garlic powder. Beat until smooth.
  • In a final bowl, add the cornflakes crumbs.
  • Dredge each chicken tender in the egg mixture then the cornflake crumbs until well-coated. Place on the baking pan.
  • Drizzle the chicken tenders generously in olive oil.
  • Bake for 15 minutes, then flip each chicken tender to bake another 10-15 minutes, until deeply golden and crispy on all sides.
  • Let cool for 6-8 minutes. In the meantime, heat up the Nashville hot glaze for 1 minute, until butter is melted and sauce is slightly thickened.
  • Either brush the glaze over all sides of the chicken tenders or gently swirl everything together in a large bowl.
  • Enjoy the Nashville hot chicken tenders warm with the homemade ranch!

I truly hope you all enjoy this treasured recipe that has nestled its way into our hearts here in the ABM kitchen! ’till next time… xxL

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

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29 Comments

    1. Hi Mouna! You could use panko breadcrumbs but it won’t have that corn-like, sweet crunch to it.

      Reply

  5. My husband and I made this recipe tonight and….OH MY GOSH WE’RE OBSESSED!!! This recipe is seriously INCREDIBLE!! Needless to say this will now be a staple meal in our house! You’re such a talented cook❤️

    Reply

  10. 5 stars
    Delicious and it’s almost as good as fried with none of the extra fat or mess. Love this recipe and I love using this method for chicken now!

    Reply

  12. Question! How long will the homemade ranch last in the fridge? Could you add a little ferment juice to make it last longer? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Hi Katherine! The ranch will last up to 1-2 weeks in the fridge! I’m not too sure about the ferment juice but totally worth the try!

      Reply

  13. 5 stars
    Oh my friend! Another wonderful recipe. Thank you! I made this with the Japanese fries. So good!

    Reply

  16. 5 stars
    I made this for Superbowl and it was a huge hit. My only error was under-salting the chicken, I used the Primal Kitchen buffalo sauce instead of hot sauce and my family loved it!

    Reply

  17. 5 stars
    This dish was so delicious! I love that it tastes like fried chicken without actually frying it. Will definitely make again!

    Reply

  18. 5 stars
    I loved trying this recipe! It is now a favorite in our house. Thank you so much! Made with love. 🙂

    Reply
5 from 18 votes (1 rating without comment)

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